High School Football Preview: Winlock finding early success in return to 8-man
New Altitude – After crashing out in '24, Cardinals excited for independent schedule
Jordan Nailon for Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com
High School Football
The Basics
Team: Winlock Cardinals
Head Coach: Ernie Samples, 10th season
Helmets: Cardinal Gold
League: Independent / 8-man
Last Year’s Record: 0-9
Last in C2BL East. No playoffs.
WINLOCK – Like a broody hen in it for the long haul on her nest, the mood on the Egg City gridiron has shifted considerably this fall.
And that comes with a huge sigh of relief for head coach Ernie Samples after last season came apart at the seams. Injuries and assorted eligibility issues decimated the Cardinals last year, resulting in three forfeits and a winless campaign. Now back for his 10th season at the helm in Winlock, Samples and crew have adjusted their goals accordingly in 2025 by opting to drop out of the Central 2B League in order to find some new competition.
Instead, the Cards will play an 8-man independent schedule primarily against members of the 1B SW Washington League, which includes the likes of Wahkiakum, Naselle, and Oakville.
“The main goal is just for them to show up. And then when they do show up they need to finish,” Samples said during a preseason practice at The Nest. “We’re trying to get some of these young guys some football knowledge.”
Last season’s best efforts came in a 54-34 loss to Rainier (WA) at home in Week 5, and a 76-42 loss on the road against Morton-White Pass in Week 8. This year the Cardinals were making a strong push for 20 players on the roster in preseason camp, and they’ll need as much depth as possible in order to avoid another limp to the finish line.
So far, so good.
The guys they’ve got were plenty to get the job done in Week 1 with a 46-19 win at home over Chief Leschi. That was a great start to a season with a very simple team goal.
“We want to have the games scheduled – played,” Samples said. “We just want that excitement about playing games.”
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